911 briefs -- Published Feb. 9, 2013

Saturday

Feb 9, 2013 at 12:01 AM

STOCKTON - San Joaquin County sheriff's deputies responded shortly after 3 a.m. Thursday to numerous reports of shots fired in the first block of North Anthony Avenue in east Stockton. They were told to be on the lookout for a brown minivan occupied by two men.

The Record

STOCKTON - San Joaquin County sheriff's deputies responded shortly after 3 a.m. Thursday to numerous reports of shots fired in the first block of North Anthony Avenue in east Stockton. They were told to be on the lookout for a brown minivan occupied by two men.

As a patrol car approached the corner of North Cardinal and East Elvin avenues, a citizen flagged down the deputies and reported the brown minivan was last seen heading west on East Elvin. As the patrol car approached the van, the driver began taking evasive action, speeding up to 60 mph on residential streets, running stop signs and driving recklessly, deputies said.

While making a left turn onto South Adelbert Avenue from East Washington Street, the driver of the van lost control and struck a fence in the 4100 block of East Washington. The driver got out and fled, eluding deputies for about seven minutes until he was found hiding in the yard of a home, officials said.

Deputies arrested Juan Soto, 39, and booked him into the San Joaquin County Jail on suspicion of damaging private property, resisting arrest and reckless driving.

STOCKTON - Two men committed armed robbery in the 2000 block of Pawnee Drive about 10:30 a.m. Friday, authorities said.

The victims, ages 18 and 19, pulled into a gas station at Thornton and Wagner Heights roads when two men approached, asking if they wanted to buy DVDs. The victims agreed to follow the men to their house. When they arrived, the men robbed the victims at gunpoint, taking their cellphones, wallets and a watch.

The robbers were described as black men in their 20s. One had cornrows, dreadlocks and a gray hooded sweatshirt. The other was 5 feet 4 inches tall and 140 to 150 pounds with a gray hooded sweatshirt and a black handgun.

STOCKTON - Sheriff's deputies Thursday apprehended a man who walked away from the San Joaquin County Honor Farm that morning, authorities said.

Eric Watts, 43, was incarcerated for a narcotics conviction and not scheduled to be released until Sept. 30, 2014, but he escaped from the Honor Farm shortly before 7 a.m. Thursday, deputies said. Watts was located about 1 p.m. in the 600 block of Rendon Avenue and taken back into custody without incident, authorities said.